Reading glasses I can’t read with

Your reading distance and computer distance are at different distances from your face - unless you usually read at arm's length away !
Reading prescription is worked out at the distance you would normally read, so your computer prescription is usually worked out between long distance and reading.
If they didn't ask if you need to use prescription for computer use, they should have so sorry, you need to go back and tell them and they will change them at no charge. A lot of people need an extra pair of specs for computer use, believe it or not - some can accommodate the difference between the two, but some can't !

I have had bifocals for decades, now I can`t live with my latest prescription.. I think everything, well most everything has changed,, and not such good caring, whatever nowadays.. let`s just have your money!

I have half a dozen pairs of pound shop reading glasses. They're great. I have a really light pair that are ideal for knitting as they sit on the end of my nose when I'm looking down. I also have glasses from the optician and they are no better. Take yours back and complain!

I have varifocals from Specsavers. They are fantastic. I use them for everything - reading, watching tv, computer and general walking about. Perfect.

Merseybelle2 I would certainly take them back and get yourself retested,this has happened to me with the same company they had put the lenses in the wrong way around.
After that I have been back to them and must say they have been brillient ever since.
They got me through my cataract surgery with no problem and since I have had that done I don't need reading spec's so go and ask if you are ready for the surgery,I was scared stiff but it was so easy and painless well worth considering imo.

I've had appalling experiences with SS so went to VE. Glasses are you made better, but I find the £1 better and I can have several different colours! Now I buy 6 pairs at a time in +3 from Amazon

I went to Vision Express at Tesco. They were very clear on the options even giving me a card explaining exactly the difference between the different lenses. She even told me in my case she didn't think I needed the more expensive option of the three. Same with the frames when I picked one I liked but couldn't afford she looked through them all and found something very similar at half the price. She also gave me charts to read for my reading glasses but pointed out that I probably would hold my book I a different position than my computer and the computer would be further away. So my reading glasses are great as I chose them primarily for reading books. She even told me to have rimmed glasses as if I did the lenses would have to be thinned which would be an added expense. Definitely worth trying a cheap pair of reading glasses to see if they suit.x

We both go to a long established family firm. We pay slightly more but I think we get better service.

I wear lenses - one eye for reading and one for long distance. I find they work perfectly for reading, driving and the computer. First thing I wear reading glasses which my optician charged £10 for.

My DH went to spec savers and couldn't see and ended up having a retest and a month for his last pair of glasses. I had to raise my voice as we were getting fobbed off will be going elsewhere next time

I have middle distance glasses for the computer - could never get by with reading glasses and sphere of correct vision with vari vocals is too small to work on the computer with

Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it. I didn’t realise about the distance being different for reading and the computer screen. I’m going to take them back as they’re as much use as a chocolate fire guard. As for finding a family optician, the only one I found is out of my price range.
Will have to look through the bottom of a pint glass to read the menus in the Argy Bargy

I went to a local optician (short sighted, easy prescription) and when I collected my glasses he told me “glasses are like false teeth, you must wear them all the time, don’t take them off”. Outside the shop I found I was standing on a hill, the buildings round me fell away alarmingly and I was scared to step off the kerb. I went back. He said there was nothing wrong with his prescription, it was that my brain couldn’t cope with it! I demanded my old glasses back, he said they had just been destroyed. I went to another optician. This one said “there’s nothing wrong with YOUR brain, it’s his! He said in order to get my money back I had to make a complaint which he would support. I eventually did get my money back and have been with Boots Opticians ever since,

I have horrible problems in art galleries and museums because, unless I get really close to the explanatory information on the wall, I can’t read it. I wear bi-vocals and the information seems to fall somewhere between the long-distance and the close-up, so I have to get really close up and peer!

PS Not keen on S——— -S—————! Too frantic for me and a lot of smoke and mirrors!

I had to go back several times to Specsavers before they got my glasses right. A few years back now. They got them right in the end, but I go elsewhere now.

I have used verifocals for years. They have three zones reading, computer (essential for my work) and distance. I also have Photochromic saves having sun glasses and anti scratch. May seem excessive, but I never need another pair at hand whatever I'm doing so I never loose them.

I cannot use my reading glasses for the computer, but they work well for reading books, newspapers etc and for sewing.

OP, you say you cannot use this pair at all, so obviously, you need to go back to the optician, explain the problem and demand that they check that the reading glasses they have provided you with are the right strength and that the lenses correct astigmatisms if you have any. My experience has been that opticians often forget to correct these when supplying reading glasses.

If going to the original optician does no good, take the glasses and yourself to a competitive firm, explain the dilemma and state you want to know whether you should be able to read with these glasses or not.

Even better go to an eye specialist and get his opinion. Why pay for something that doesn't work?

The original optician should either make you a pair of glasses free of charge that you can read, sew and knit with, or refund your money, so you can go to an optician who can make what you need.

Our big ASDA has an opticians. There is a massive notice up on the wall which says ordinary glasses £40, designer ones £80. All inclusive of everything except reactalite. I finished up paying £120 for two pairs of all singing and dancing varifocals. Never spent less than £300 before! I’ll go back to them. The part I liked was the big notice. It tells you what it will cost before you start! It’s all so upfront and definitely cheaper. Glasses are lovely, well as lovely as glasses can be!

Never go to......... They are rubbish.

They told me I had 'old eyes' when I couldn't see through the spectacles they tried to sell me. I hadn't, I needed several eye operations, including a retina peel, after being referred to the hospital by my lovely local independent optician, who knew what the problem was straight away!.

I get my eyes tested at Vision Express then go to Asda for the glasses. Everything is included in the price. Mostly £80 for one £120 for two pairs.

I worked in computing and always has a different pair of specs for screen work, as my screen would be further away that I would hold a book. Luckily my employer paid for these. Since retiring I buy a decent, over the counter pair of readers with a slightly lower power than my prescription ones. Make sure that all of your screen is approx the same distance from your eyes, even if it means you have to prop it up.

I wear contacts but need reading glasses on top now for close work and only ever buy off the shelf reading glasses - on the advice of two opticians.

But I find I need different strengths for using the laptop or computer and for reading a book, presumably because the book is nearer to my eyes. So I just have a weaker strength pair for the computer. I also have a super strength pair for sewing. So three different strengths in all. There are plenty of cheap reading glasses around.

The only snag being that the frames are probably not as stylish or varied as those from an optician.

Re Specsavers, we both use for contact lens/glasses and for hearing aids and we’ve been very happy with the service.

This is pertinent for me. Collected new varifocals from SS yesterday, distance fine but close blurred. Have been sent away to try them for a few days. My current varis came from Glasses Direct and never had any problem with them. This thread has given me the confidence not to be fobbed off especially as there is another pair outstanding.

I was told by 'you should have gone to...', when I complained I couldn't read with my new varifocals that 'You didn't say you wanted glasses for reading!' I now go to an independent optician and very good they are.

Like others I buy cheap ones. At the moment I need 250 magnifying for reading. Books or screen.
Husband bought some online about £12 for 10 pairs. He even uses them now, in the past being convinced by an optician that he had some very rare visual deformity. And paying a fortune for his specs.
I know there are some people who need a specialised prescription, but I think a lot of it is a bit of a con.
I was waiting for a bus this pm, the bus stop is next to an optician. I saw 2 women with young families, 3 or4 children, going in there for specs. Why do they want them at that age?
Anyone looking for a lucrative profession, train to be an Optician. Or Opthalmologist.